Ecolab Inc. (ECL) Financial Ratios
30 years of historical data (1996–2025) · Basic Materials · Chemicals - Specialty
EV/EBITDA
↓
22.75
-1% vs avg
5yr avg: 23.04
30Y Low9.2·High30.3
P/FCF
↓
38.21
-3% vs avg
5yr avg: 39.50
30Y Low17.7·High101.5
P/B Ratio
↓
7.49
+0% vs avg
5yr avg: 7.48
30Y Low2.4·High10.0
ROE
↑
22.3%
↓+15% vs avg
5yr avg: 19.4%
30Y Low-16%·High31%
Debt/EBITDA
↓
2.63
↓-12% vs avg
5yr avg: 2.99
30Y Low0.6·High5.8
Percentile shows where the current value sits in 30-year historical distribution. Sparklines show 5-year trend.
ECL Valuation Multiples
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
Ecolab Inc. trades at 35.4x earnings, 15% below its 5-year average of 41.5x, sitting at the 83rd percentile of its historical range. Compared to the Basic Materials sector median P/E of 22.3x, the stock trades at a premium of 59%. On a free-cash-flow basis, the stock trades at 38.2x P/FCF, roughly in line with the 5-year average of 39.5x.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $72.8B | $74.9B | $67.2B | $56.8B | $41.7B | $67.8B | $62.1B | $56.4B | $43.1B | $39.4B | $34.8B |
| Enterprise Value | $81.5B | $83.7B | $74.2B | $64.6B | $50.1B | $76.6B | $67.9B | $63.2B | $50.1B | $46.6B | $41.1B |
| P/E Ratio → | 35.39 | 36.06 | 31.79 | 41.41 | 38.20 | 60.00 | — | 36.21 | 30.19 | 26.21 | 28.31 |
| P/S Ratio | 4.52 | 4.66 | 4.27 | 3.71 | 2.94 | 5.33 | 5.27 | 4.49 | 2.94 | 2.85 | 2.64 |
| P/B Ratio | 7.49 | 7.64 | 7.64 | 7.04 | 5.75 | 9.35 | 10.01 | 6.47 | 5.36 | 5.13 | 4.99 |
| P/FCF | 38.21 | 39.32 | 36.91 | 34.71 | 38.79 | 47.80 | 45.29 | 33.41 | 30.16 | 32.26 | 29.40 |
| P/OCF | 24.64 | 25.36 | 23.87 | 23.56 | 23.33 | 32.89 | 33.38 | 23.32 | 18.94 | 18.86 | 17.93 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
ECL EV Ratios
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
Ecolab Inc.'s enterprise value stands at 22.7x EBITDA, roughly in line with its 5-year average of 23.0x. The Basic Materials sector median is 11.0x, placing the stock at a 107% premium on an enterprise-value basis.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 5.20 | 4.71 | 4.22 | 3.53 | 6.02 | 5.76 | 5.03 | 3.41 | 3.37 | 3.13 |
| EV / EBITDA | 22.75 | 23.33 | 20.91 | 20.96 | 19.68 | 30.31 | 26.94 | 23.53 | 17.15 | 15.05 | 14.39 |
| EV / EBIT | 28.00 | 29.99 | 25.50 | 30.63 | 31.20 | 46.99 | 48.28 | 32.00 | 24.09 | 22.94 | 21.35 |
| EV / FCF | — | 43.93 | 40.77 | 39.49 | 46.62 | 54.00 | 49.55 | 37.38 | 35.00 | 38.08 | 34.78 |
ECL Profitability
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Ecolab Inc. earns an operating margin of 18.1%, above the Basic Materials sector average of 9.2%. Operating margins have expanded from 14.1% to 18.1% over the past 3 years, signaling improving operational efficiency. ROE of 22.3% indicates solid capital efficiency. ROIC of 12.7% represents solid returns on invested capital.
Margins
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 44.5% | 44.5% | 43.5% | 40.3% | 38.2% | 41.0% | 41.5% | 44.0% | 41.3% | 42.1% | 47.9% |
| Operating Margin | 18.1% | 18.1% | 16.6% | 14.1% | 11.3% | 13.2% | 14.5% | 15.2% | 13.5% | 15.9% | 15.3% |
| Net Profit Margin | 12.9% | 12.9% | 13.4% | 9.0% | 7.7% | 8.9% | -10.2% | 12.4% | 9.7% | 10.9% | 9.3% |
Return on Capital
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 22.3% | 22.3% | 25.1% | 17.9% | 15.0% | 16.8% | -16.1% | 18.6% | 18.2% | 20.5% | 17.6% |
| ROA | 8.8% | 8.8% | 9.6% | 6.3% | 5.1% | 5.7% | -6.2% | 7.6% | 7.1% | 7.9% | 6.7% |
| ROIC | 12.7% | 12.7% | 12.4% | 10.3% | 7.6% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 9.4% | 10.0% | 11.7% | 11.3% |
| ROCE | 15.8% | 15.8% | 14.9% | 12.4% | 9.2% | 10.3% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 12.0% | 13.8% | 13.8% |
ECL Leverage & Debt
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
Ecolab Inc. carries a Debt/EBITDA ratio of 2.6x, which is moderately leveraged (5% above the sector average of 2.5x). Net debt stands at $8.8B ($9.4B total debt minus $646M cash). Interest coverage of 11.6x signals virtually no risk of debt distress — earnings comfortably cover interest obligations.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.96 | 0.96 | 0.94 | 1.08 | 1.24 | 1.26 | 1.15 | 0.78 | 0.87 | 0.95 | 0.96 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 2.63 | 2.63 | 2.33 | 2.83 | 3.54 | 3.62 | 2.82 | 2.54 | 2.41 | 2.37 | 2.34 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.90 | 0.80 | 0.97 | 1.16 | 1.21 | 0.94 | 0.77 | 0.86 | 0.92 | 0.91 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.45 | 2.45 | 1.98 | 2.53 | 3.31 | 3.48 | 2.32 | 2.50 | 2.37 | 2.30 | 2.23 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 4.61 | 3.86 | 4.77 | 7.84 | 6.20 | 4.27 | 3.97 | 4.84 | 5.82 | 5.38 |
| Interest Coverage | 11.57 | 11.57 | 8.60 | 5.95 | 6.09 | 7.54 | 5.72 | 8.16 | 7.58 | 7.60 | 6.98 |
ECL Liquidity & Efficiency
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
A current ratio of 1.08x means Ecolab Inc. can comfortably meet its short-term obligations, though there is limited excess liquidity. The current ratio has declined from 1.30x to 1.08x over the past 3 years.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.08 | 1.08 | 1.26 | 1.30 | 1.30 | 1.32 | 1.75 | 1.33 | 1.27 | 1.34 | 1.42 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.81 | 0.81 | 0.95 | 0.95 | 0.88 | 0.90 | 1.31 | 1.03 | 0.85 | 0.92 | 0.98 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.26 | 0.21 | 0.14 | 0.10 | 0.43 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.11 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 0.65 | 0.70 | 0.70 | 0.66 | 0.60 | 0.65 | 0.60 | 0.73 | 0.69 | 0.72 |
| Inventory Turnover | 5.99 | 5.99 | 6.07 | 6.11 | 4.89 | 5.03 | 5.36 | 6.50 | 5.57 | 5.54 | 5.19 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 73.75 | 70.22 | 71.98 | 74.15 | 75.38 | 75.61 | 72.32 | 66.25 | 67.84 | 67.88 |
ECL Shareholder Yields
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Ecolab Inc. returns 2.1% to shareholders annually — split between a 1.0% dividend yield and 1.1% buyback yield. The payout ratio of 36.3% is conservative, leaving significant room for dividend growth or reinvestment. The earnings yield of 2.8% (inverse of P/E) provides a useful comparison to bond yields when assessing the stock's relative attractiveness to fixed income.
Dividends
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.2% |
| Payout Ratio | 36.3% | 36.3% | 31.4% | 45.0% | 55.2% | 50.1% | — | 35.5% | 34.7% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
Total Shareholder Return Metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 2.8% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 1.7% | — | 2.8% | 3.3% | 3.8% | 3.5% |
| FCF Yield | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 3.0% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Buyback Yield | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 0.0% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 2.1% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 2.7% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $285M | $287M | $287M | $287M | $289M | $287M | $293M | $293M | $294M | $297M |
Peer Comparison
Compare ECL with 10 similar companies in its peer group
| Company | Market Cap | P/E | EV/EBITDA | P/FCF | Gross Margin | Op Margin | ROE | ROIC | Debt/EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ECLYou | $73B | 35.4 | 22.7 | 38.2 | 44.5% | 18.1% | 22.3% | 12.7% | 2.6 |
 SHW | $77B | 30.4 | 20.8 | 29.0 | 48.9% | 16.1% | 59.4% | 16.5% | 3.3 |
 IFF | $18B | -48.5 | 12.3 | 70.6 | 30.9% | 9.2% | -2.7% | 3.5% | 3.4 |
 RPM | $13B | 18.6 | 14.0 | 23.7 | 41.4% | 12.3% | 25.5% | 13.3% | 2.7 |
 FMC | $2B | -0.8 | — | — | 37.0% | -54.4% | -67.8% | -21.2% | — |
 CHD | $22B | 31.0 | 18.1 | 20.3 | 44.7% | 17.4% | 17.6% | 13.9% | 1.7 |
 WST | $22B | 45.6 | 29.6 | 47.7 | 35.9% | 20.1% | 16.9% | 17.5% | 0.6 |
 NDSN | $16B | 33.2 | 20.6 | 23.8 | 55.2% | 25.5% | 16.2% | 10.5% | 2.4 |
 CTAS | $68B | 38.5 | 24.7 | 38.8 | 50.0% | 22.8% | 40.3% | 25.8% | 0.9 |
 ACCO | $371M | 9.1 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 29.8% | 7.1% | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.1 |
 DOW | $29B | -11.1 | 14.6 | — | 6.0% | 0.7% | -14.8% | 0.6% | 6.3 |
| Basic Materials Median | — | 22.3 | 11.0 | 25.6 | 31.3% | 9.2% | 0.0% | 4.5% | 2.5 |
Peer selection based on competitive and market overlap. Compare multiple stocks →
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Full ECL Stock Analysis
Analyst consensus, bull case, AI-generated risk factors, and peer comparison — all in one place.
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Side-by-side business, growth, and profitability comparison vs The Sherwin-Williams Company.
Start ComparisonECL — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying ECL stock.
What is Ecolab Inc.'s P/E ratio?
Ecolab Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 35.4x. The historical average is 30.8x. This places it at the 83th percentile of its historical range.
What is Ecolab Inc.'s EV/EBITDA?
Ecolab Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 22.7x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 15.4x.
What is Ecolab Inc.'s ROE?
Ecolab Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is 22.3%. This is above the typical threshold of 15-20% considered good for most companies. The historical average is 19.4%.
Is ECL stock overvalued?
Based on historical data, Ecolab Inc. is trading at a P/E of 35.4x. This is at the 83th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
What is Ecolab Inc.'s dividend yield?
Ecolab Inc.'s current dividend yield is 1.03% with a payout ratio of 36.3%.
What are Ecolab Inc.'s profit margins?
Ecolab Inc. has 44.5% gross margin and 18.1% operating margin. Operating margin between 10-20% is typical for established companies.
How much debt does Ecolab Inc. have?
Ecolab Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 2.6x, indicating moderate leverage. A ratio between 2-4x is manageable but warrants monitoring.